Page 51 of A Pirate of Her Own

Jake shook his head and laughed. “You always have to win an argument, don’t you?”

Morgan clenched his teeth. He certainly had never won an argument with Serenity.

After several seconds of silence, Jake spoke up. “I guess I just don’t see whyshemakes a difference.”

Morgan didn’t even want to think aboutthat.

Serenity was different. Everything about her.

“Go get some sleep,” Morgan said with a sigh. “I’ve got the helm.”

Jake released the wheel to him. “I think I’ve pretty much corrected our course. We do have one slight problem, though.”

“Which is?”

He pointed up to the mizzenmast. “Even with them down, we lost the mizzen topsail and the fore topsail to the wind. I figure the repairs can wait until morning, but you will need to replace them.”

“Aye. I’ll have Lou and Kit take care of it.”

Provided Serenity will let me back in my cabin to get the spare sails.

“Good night, Drake.”

If only the night was good,Morgan thought sullenly. But right then, nothing seemed good at all.

Hours went by slowly while Morgan watched over the helm, doing his best not to think about the woman below.

In an effort to distract himself, he looked up at the damaged sails. Fate had been kind to him, he’d only lost two. The exact number he had left in his cabin. He’d meant to purchase more in Savannah, but Jake’s unexpected abduction of Serenity had precluded that.

Sighing, he realized he’d have to check the sealant below in the storage rooms again lest the storm had damaged it and they lost more supplies. Blast it all anyway.

And then his thoughts turned to more discomforting matters, such as Serenity surrendering herself to him…

Not long after dawn, his crew began stirring, coming topside with lazy, tired walks. Lou climbed the mast and headed for the crow’s nest while the others headed to the jardines on the poop deck to relieve themselves.

“Captain!” Lou shouted as soon as he took his post. “There’s a sloop to port aft.”

Morgan turned in the direction and squinted. He could just barely make out the shape with his naked eye. “Bearing?”

“Headed straight for us, Captain.”

“Can you make their markings?” Morgan asked.

Lifting the spyglass, Lou studied the ship. It seemed forever before he answered. “Aye, she flies the Stars and Stripes, Captain.”

Morgan breathed a sigh of relief. At least it wasn’t the Union Jack or Jolly Roger. An American ship he could deal with, but first he had to let them know he was friendly—not a pirate or privateer out to liberate them of their cargo.

Spying Barney to his right, he shouted. “Take the helm, Mr. Pitkern.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

Morgan headed to his cabin.

He tried the lock and luckily it gave way. Hoping Serenity was still asleep, he gently nudged the door open.

His luck was holding. She lay curled up on his bed like a small child. He sighed in relief as he watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

She hadn’t bothered to remove her dress, which was now hopelessly wrinkled. But what captured and held his attention were the tiny, bare feet peeking out from beneath the hem. He’d never paid attention to a woman’s toes before, but for some reason he found hers delightful.

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